Well pump



July 30, 1946.

W. T. SMITH WELL PUMP Filed Aug. 21, 1945 Patented July 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMP Wilson T. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 21, 1945, Serial No. 611,743

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to well pumps, more particularly pumps designed to operate in wells troubled with excessive sand condition wherein sand flows into the well bore, either continuously or intermittently.

Among the objects of my invention are:

First: To provide a well pump for sand loaded wells wherein multiple jet of a flushing fluid are directed above and belowthe standing valve during the return and pumping strokes of the pump.

Second: To provide a well pump wherein the injector unit is contained in a single shoe or adapter fitting which also forms a seat for the standing valve.

Third: To provide a well pump of this class wherein the flushing operation may be suspended at will from the surface of the Well whenever conditions warrant, or may be maintained in operation.

Fourth: To provide a well pump of this character which, although primarily suited for removing sand-laden fluids, is also applicable in wells pumping parafin base oil or other types of oil, wherein a constituent tends to settle out and clog the production line, in which case the flushing fluid may be pre-heated or constitute a solvent for the parafiln or similar constituent.

With the foregoing and other object in view,

. reference is directed to the accompanying drawing,inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary partial elevational partial sectional view of a well pump embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through 22 of Figure 1, showing particularly the standing valve and jet units.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 3--3 of Figure 2 showing the upper set of jet parts.

Figure 4 is another transverse sectional view thereof taken through 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the lower set of jet parts.

My well pump is suspended from a string of tubing l. Aguide collar 2 is threaded to the lower end of the tubing string and is in turn attached to an outer shell 3. The lower end of the shell screw threads into a shoe 4, which in turn is joined to a tail pipe adapter 5.

The shoe 4, which is tubular, is provided with an upstanding, reduced end within the shell 3. To this end is attached the lower extremity of a pump jacket 6, which may have a pump liner therein. The upper end of the pump jacket 6 2 fit within the lower end of the guide collar 2. This connection may be a sliding connection.

Within the jacket 6 is a pump plunger 1, the upper end of which is joined by a collar 8 to macaroni tubing 9. Within the pump plunger is a traveling valve Ill. The lower end of the pump plunger may be equipped with a standing valve puller H.

The bore of the shoe 4 is provided at the midportion of the shoe with a tapered seat, which receives a standing valve 12. The standing valve 12 includes a body [3, over which is fitted a cage I4. Within the cage I4 is a ball valve 15 for controlling flow of production fluid upwardly through the bore of the shoe 4 and into the pump jacket 8. The upper end of the cage i 4 may be equipped with a head I6 adapted to be engaged by the standing valve puller II, when it is desired to remove the pump plunger 1 and tanding valve I2.

The pump plunger and a standing valve and their co-acting parts may be conventional.

A flushing fluid channel I! is formed between the tubing I and macaroni tubing 9 and between the shell 3 and pump jacket 6. The walls of the shoe 4 are provided with a series of axially directed bores divided alternately into upper jet bores l8 and lower jet bore l9. These bores extend axially from the flushing fluid channel I"! to the lower extremity of the shoe 4, which abuts the tail pipe adapter 5.

The upper jet bores 18 are counter-bored to a point near their upper ends and here receive valve seats 29. Only the lower ends of the lower jet bores l9 are counter-bored, but these likewise receive valve seats 20. Ball valves 2| bear upwardly against the valve seats 20 and are backed by springs 22. The springs 22 are contained in cages 23 in the form of socket members, having axially slotted walls. The cages 23 disposed in the upper jet bores [B are attached to the upper ends of stems 24, which extend to the lower ends of their bores and are provided with threaded ends 25, which screw thread into the lower ends of the bores. Similar threaded ends 25 are connected directly to the cages 23 located in the lower jet bores l 9.

Assembly and disassembly of the valves contained in the jet bores l8 and i9 are accomplished from the lower end of the shoe 4, which shoulders on the tail pipe adapter 5.

Each upper jet bore I8 is intersected opposite its cage 23 by a transverse bore 33 extending radially through the wall of the shoe 4. The transverse bores 33 are offset circumferentially from the jet bores 58 and receive jet units 21. Similarly, the lower jet bores I!) are intersected by radially directed sockets 28 containing jet units 2% The jet units 2? and 2;) are identical in construction, and each includes a stem 38 screwthreaded at its extremity for attachment in the base of its socket 25 or 2%, as the case may be. The stems 35 are provided with heads 3|, which seal in counter bores provided at the outer extremities of the sockets 26 and 28. The stems 353 are provided with axially directed jet bores 32 intersected by transverse bores 33 communicating with the sockets 26 and 28 inwardly of the heads 3!.

The upper set of jet units ill are directed into the bore of the shoe i, above the standing valve l2, whereas the lower set of jet units 29 aredirected into the bore of the shoe 4 below the standing valve l2.

The upper end of the flushing fluid channel 51, defined between the tub ng l and'macaroni tubing 3, is connected to a source of flushing fluid, preferably under controlled pressure; The flushing fluid channel i'i'is filled with a flushing fluid which may be water, oil or'a solvent depending upon the character of' the production fluid.

The ball valves controlling the upper'je't units are designed to withstand the combined static pressure of the flushing fluid and the pressure supplied by the pressure source when opposed by the back pressure of the production fluid column within the macaroni tubing, that is; during the'down-stroke' of the pump plunger l, but

open during the up-stroke when the'pro'du'ction' fluid column is supported by the traveling valve.

The springs of the lower set of ball valvessupplying the lower jet units 29 are adjusted so' that flushing fluid is not introduced below' the valve against the well pressure of the production fluid.-

During the up-stroke of the ump" plunger l, the pressure below the standing valve drops surncientlydue to the upward'flow'of fluid into-the pump jacket 6 that the lower setof jet units 29 deleterious matter, the conditions for opening' the lower set of jet units are enhanced when the need for flushing fluid is the greatest.

Thus if the' production fluid is sand-laden,

the lower set of jets assistin in'ducti'ng thefluid through the standing valve !2 and prevent sanding-up of the pump due' to the packing of sand below the standing valve. This operation takes place during the up-stroke of the pump" plunger. Also during the up-stroke of the pump plunger, the upper set of jet units i'l come into operation to prevent accumulation and packing of sand around the upper side of the standing valve E2.

If the deleterious matter in the production fluid be paraifin or a constituent other than sand, the flushing fluid may be heated or be a solvent. If heated, the entire macaroni tubing is jacketed by a warm fluid and settling out of the paraflin maybe readily prevented.

Many other embodiments of the invention'may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A well pump comprising: a pump unit including a standing valve; production tubing connected With said pump unit; flushing fluid tubing, the lower end jacketing said pump unit; a first set of jet elements communicating between said flushing fluid tubing and the interior oisaid pump unit above said standing valve, and a second set of jet elements communicating between said flushing fluid tubing and the interior of said pump unit below said standing valve.

:4. A well pump comprising: a shoe structure having a production intake bore; a plurality of flushing fluid passages extending axially in the walls 01' said shoe structure; sets of jets communioating-between'said passages and said bore at axially spaced regions; a check valve in each of said passages for controlling flow to a correspondin jet; astanding valve in said bore between said sets of jets for controlling flow of production fluid; production tubing continuing from said bore; a pump piston unit therein above said standing valve, and a source of flushing fluid-communicab' ing with the passages in said shoe;

3. The combination with a well pump having a standing valve in the intake side of said well pump; a production line extending from said well ump and a flushing fluid line, its lower end jaoketing the well pump, of a flushing'apparatus comprising: a first set of jets communicating'be tween said flushing line and the upperside of'saidstanding valve, and a second set of jets communicating between said flushing line and the lower side of said'standing'valve'.

4. The combination with a well'pump having a" standing valve in the intake side of said well pump; a production line extendin from said well pump and a flushing'f'fluid line, its lower end jacketing the well-pump, of a flushing apparatus comprising: a shoe having a bore adapted to' r'e-' ceive said standing. valve, said shoe havirigl'a plurality of axially' directed passages and jets discharging from corresponding passages into said bore above and below said standing valve.

5. The combination with a well pump having a standing valve in the intake sideof' said well pump;a production line extendingrrom said wellpump and a flushing fluid line, its lower end jacketing the well pump, of a flushing apparatus comprising: a shoe having a bore adapted to receive said standing valve, said shoe having a plurality of axially directed passages and jets discharging from corresponding passages into said bore above and below said standing valve, and'a spring loaded check valve in each of saidlpa'ssages adapted to open when the pressure in'the vicinity.

of itspoint of discharge into the bore is reduced.

6. The combination with a well'pump having'a' standing valve in the intake side of said well pump; a production line extending: from saidwell pump and a flushing fluid line its lowerend' sure sensitive devices for each of said means adapted to open its corresponding means and cause the introduction offlushing'fluid when'thepressure at the point of introduction of'an'y of said means in reduced, and to close its correspending means'when saidpressu're is raised.

WILSON T. SMITH. 

